RAIL CAR MISHAP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 8 October 1936, Page 6

RAIL CAR MISHAP

BLOWN OFF LINE ON RIMUTAKA INCLINE THREE PEOPLE BADLY INJURED 'By Telegraph—Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The 8.40 a.m. rail car from Masterton with 20 passengers was blown off the line about 200 yards from Pigeon Bush station, on the Rimulaka incline, this morning. A very heavy gale was blowing at Featherston, and all railway telegraph lines were down. Three people w r ere very badly injured and sent to hospital, and quite a number had cuts and abrasions. The line was clear at 9.45. Arrangements were made for the passengers to be brought to Wellington by a steam train. TREMENDOUS GUST OF WIND PASSENGERS TAKEN TO FEATHERSTON MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR INJURED CARTERTON, This Day. A heavy north-west gale raging at Featherston this morning blew a rail car over 20 yards on the north side of the break-wind at Pigeon Bush. It is known that three passengers were seriously hurt, suffering a broken leg, a broken arm and broken ribs. Two others were less seriously hurt. Many suffered cuts from flying glass and bruises. The passengers numbered between 30 and 40.

The wind struck the car all the way from Carterton, but though the car rocked considerably, there was no thought of it overturning. Approaching the brealcwind, a tremendous gust burst on the car, which reeled over. The passengers were taken back to Featherston, where the injured received medical attention. A second, rail car was delayed at Carterton and the passengers taken by bus to Featherston, where the journey was continued over the hill by a steam train.

FURTHER PARTICULARS

TRYING TIME FOR PASSENGERS TWENTY-FOUR ON BOARD WELLINGTON, This Day. Caught by a violent gust of wind shortly after leaving Featherston this morning, the new rail car Mamari was hurled from the rails to the side of the track. Two women passengers were seriously injured by flying glass, and several others received cuts and bruises. The rail car left Masterton for Wellington at 7.50 a.m., and,,.reached Featherston at 8.28. Three' minutes later, just as the Mamari was on a straight stretch of the line half a mile from Pigeon Bush, it was struck by a particularly strong gust thirty yards from the breakwind, which extends for a quarter of a mile towards Pigeon Bush. The front of the car narrowly missed a telegraph pole which; however, was shorn off by the side of the vehicle. Every window on the left-hand side of the car was shattered, while damage was sustained to the under-car-riage and body. The passengers were thrown about in wild confusion. Two women suffered broken collarbones and arms. The guard (Mr Seager) assisted the injured and then went to a nearby ’phone and a doctor was soon on the scene. There were twenty-four passengers, including several children, in the rail car at the time of the smash, but all remained calm throughout their trying experience. The passengers had to be extricated from the damaged car throilgh the driver's entrance and they were taken to Featherston by cars. The driver of the rail-car, Mr V. Schroder, suffered a few cuts from flying glass when his compartment was struck by an iron pole.

The scene of the accident is near the spot where a steam train with several carriages was blown off the rails some years ago

NAMES OF THE INJURED The persons seriously injured were: Miss G. Knott, Masterton; fractured ribs, and right arm. Mrs Hume, Masterton; fractured right arm and ribs. Mr K. Collett, N.Z.R., Marton; fractured ribs. Five others less seriously hurt were: A. S. Humber, Masterton; cuts on left leg. Miss Bella Phillips, Masterton; right middle finger injured. Mrs A. H. Bull, Greytown; cuts on face. Mrs M. Moss, Masterton; cuts on neck and face. Miss Hedley, of Landsdowne; cut on nose. '